spiritee

What I will not miss:

1. Bad Customer Service

2. TV Licence

3. Council Tax

4. Petrol prices

Okay, so we've had the threads talking about all of the wonderful things regarding the UK and the things we really miss etc etc. How about things you DON'T miss or can't wait to see the back of?

Me? The London Underground and the buses in the Summer months. 100f+ temps, no air at all, clothes all stuck to your legs....ick. Don't miss it AT ALL. The buses were even worse, little greenhouses on wheels, they really were!

So, what about you?

I was pregnant when I went for the medical and I was not allowed to have the x-ray taken and a couple of the vaccinations. Your fiance writing to the embassy will not speed up the process, just make sure that you take proof of your pregnancy to the medical. ( Despite my obvious pregnant stomach I was still asked for proof)

that I'm pregnant?

Was reading another thread and it said that the fiance had to write to them confirming his knowledge I was pregnant.

Has anyone been through anything similar?????

I'll be about 5 months my interview, have ticked 'yes' on the medical forms....

Oh, when he wrote a cover letter for our I-129, he wrote as part 'I would do anything in my power to have (AlienUK)and (son's name) here by September when our child is born so I can be there for the birth of my first child.'

Would this be enough?

It’s not subtle, it’s blatantly obvious! When I first heard that the Princess would be from New Orleans I thought it was some kind of joke!

A black princess from New Orleans in the aftermath of Katrina.

Why black, why New Orleans, and why now?

It may be subtle.... but it's there.

There is a pill which you can take which will postpone your period!

Ladies, say you could only visit your hubby about twice a year, and there was no way he could get a visitor's visa to visit you at all.

Now say you've had a trip planned and paid for and then WHAMMO.......................you realize you will be there at "that time of the month".

What would you do? Would you reschedule? Just suck it up and go anyways?

I had the same message when I wanted to re schedule my appointment and despite putting my case number in the subject line I still did not receive a response. Eventually I mailed the request to the Embassy and within 2 weeks I received a new interview date in the post.

Hi guys,

needing some advice. We've received an interview/medical date for my setpson. We need to postpone it for about a month. I've read through all the messages I could find on this topic and came accross this email address LondonConsular@state.gov. I sent an email tonight requesting a new date and recieved this response almost immediately:

THIS IS AN AUTOMATED REPLY. PLEASE DO NOT RESPOND TO THIS E-MAIL.

Your e-mail was deleted without being read.

This e-mail address is solely for individuals who have been authorized

to contact the Consular Information Unit about a specific matter. This

address is not for general inquiries from the public, attorneys or

agents of record. Please understand our workload does not allow us to

read unauthorized inquiries, but the Embassy has set up several

mechanisms to provide general and personalized guidance.

Highly detailed visa information is available from the Embassy's

website

at http://london.usembassy.gov. Due to our heavy workload, we cannot

respond to email inquiries when the subject matter is addressed on the

website.

We also cannot respond to requests for expedited processing, or

nonimmigrant visa "case status" inquiries which are still within the

estimated time frame given on the website, or by the interviewing

Consular Officer, whichever is longer.

If you still have questions after reading all of the content on the

website, please call the Embassy's Operator Assisted Information

Service

for personalized service. Contact information for the operator service

can be found on this page:

http://london.usembassy.gov/cons_new/visa/index.html.

Is our only option calling the Embassy and spending an arm and a leg on our phone bill? Though what's a few more bucks after all the buckets of money we've already spent on this process! Sheesh!

Has anyone else been able to get an email through to the London Embassy recently? I'm wondering if this is just something they send to everyone and then actually respond to the ones deemed appropriate. From what I've read this is a valid request that should be answerable through email...or maybe that isn't the case anymore.

Thanks in advance for your help, guys. I appreciate it.

~Lani

The difference between a white kid or anyone for that matter working 14 hours a day for a few cents and a slave is freedom!

"I would consider my self African as well, just separated by 30,000 years.." - I totally agree with this statement.

"quite a few where treated exceptionally well"??? Gosh, so if you were forced to labour for someone for free you would consider yourself to be treated well!

As I asked above, what about white kids who worked 14 hours a day and where paid a few cents an hour. Was this any better than slavery?

“As usual the good side of the story does not make good news therefore is not spoken of.” This is an interesting comment you commented earlier on Oprah etc and how lucky they must feel not being in Africa! Have you actually been to Africa? Have you studied African history from an African perspective?

At the same time it is interesting to see no one mention that not all African-American slaves where treated badly and quite a few where treated exceptionally well. As usual the good side of the story does not make good news therefore is not spoken of.

Some might say what would I know about slavery. Well my ancestors where slaves for over 363 years under the ottoman era (Turks) and where only freed 41 years prior to African-Americans.

No I have not been to any African country. I have studied basic African history at school. Considering that Africa is said to be the foundation of human beings, traced back by DNA, I would consider my self African as well, just separated by 30,000 years..

"quite a few where treated exceptionally well"??? Gosh, so if you were forced to labour for someone for free you would consider yourself to be treated well!

“As usual the good side of the story does not make good news therefore is not spoken of.” This is an interesting comment you commented earlier on Oprah etc and how lucky they must feel not being in Africa! Have you actually been to Africa? Have you studied African history from an African perspective?

At the same time it is interesting to see no one mention that not all African-American slaves where treated badly and quite a few where treated exceptionally well. As usual the good side of the story does not make good news therefore is not spoken of.

Some might say what would I know about slavery. Well my ancestors where slaves for over 363 years under the ottoman era (Turks) and where only freed 41 years prior to African-Americans.

I was told that the Doctors would forward the X-Ray to the Embassy.

Had I attended the interview whilst I was pregnant I would not have had to have the X-Ray until I did the AOS.

I'm not sure I'm following this statement. Was your medical done before the visa interview at the consulate?

And if your passport was returned to you, then I'd imagine you'd have to get another appointment with them to drop off the xray with your passport.

Had I attended the interview whilst I was pregnant I would not have had to have the X-Ray until I did the AOS.

Hmmm, does this mean that a foreign fiancee who is pregnant at the time of her medical, must wait for her visa until she is no longer pregnant and able to have her x-ray? What if she is only 1 month in, does that really delay people 8 months?

Just curious.

My passport was returned to me.

No, to the best of my knowledge I was told that once they have received the X-Ray then they will issue the visa.

I believe the 'code' for 221g is 'administrative processing' - basically meaning they need more information before they can issue the visa.

Did they not give you instructions to return once you've had the x-ray?

Then in that case - no worries!!

I wouldn't think you'd need to return to the embassy, either - unless to take them your passport (or did they keep it?).

No, to the best of my knowledge I was told that once they have received the X-Ray then they will issue the visa.

I believe the 'code' for 221g is 'administrative processing' - basically meaning they need more information before they can issue the visa.

Did they not give you instructions to return once you've had the x-ray?

I had my interview this morning and I received the blue 221g because when I had my medical I was pregnant and therefore was unable to have my X-Ray taken. This means another trip to the Docs to get this done. I was surprised because I was not asked to produce any evidence that my Fiance had met in the last two years so my highlighting and blacking out 4 ½ years worth of phone bills was a waste of time. I was asked one question and it was not pertaining to the relationship, it was about the one item on my police report.

Has any one else had experience of receiving a blue 221g?

How does your husband make you put on a wig to cover your natural hair? This sounds like a control issue as opposed to a race issue to me and I feel that you need to get in control of this situation now because your hair will not be the only thing he will have a problem with.

I recently asked African women on a previous post about an issue that I have with my white husband. I am a Nigerian women with thick (course?) hair. It is normal hair for most Nigerian women. My husband, however, seems to be fixated on long, silky hair like many Ethiopian and Somali women (and even Hispanic) have in our city (Minneapolis). He makes me put on a wig to cover up my natural hair. Nothing else will suffice: no relaxer, no twists, no natural look. Just the wig. I, as I said on the other topic post, am furious.

I would like an honest answer from white men married to African women: Is our hair an issue to you or is my husband being absolutely unreasonable. Please be honest, because I don't want to keeping perceiving him as being ashamed of me if it is something that many white men may have an issue about.

I am hurt and confused and looking for perspectives from women and men.

Thank you.

CONGRATULATIONS ANDY!

Thanks for the advice, I will definatly look into it.

Is it legal to register the baby twice in 2 diff Countries?

Did you register the baby with the US embassy? so the baby can get a US passport...

Kez

Did you read the info I gave you about Children born outside the US who have a USC parent.... and it is not illegal to register your baby with the UK and the US.... there are 1000's of children in the same situation as yours who have dual nationality as you baby is entitled to...

But hey I am just trying to help you sort out this issue... up to you what you do...

Kez

Is it legal to register the baby twice in 2 diff Countries?

Did you register the baby with the US embassy? so the baby can get a US passport...

Kez

The Father is a USC hence the K1 application. My Fiance and I registered the babies birth when he was here in England and we have already applied for and received a British passport so my understanding is that the baby will also need a visa.

I will be attending my interview for the K1 visa in 8 days time and I had a baby last month. Does anybody know what the process is to add the baby for a K2? I have been advised to let them know at the interview and that they will add the child to the visa. Do I need to take the child’s passport and birth cert? I am also aware that the baby will need to attend a medical. Has anyone had first hand experience of this? Thanks in advance.

I had the same problem! You can order a copy of your marriage certificate online or over the telephone from the General Register Office (0845 603 7788) and it costs approx £27.00 for a copy and takes a couple of weeks to be posted or:

You can physically go to the local registry office of the Borough/District where the marriage took place and pay £7.00 and receive it he certificate on the day.

My fiancé' was previously married nearly 20 years ago. The Check list in packet three claims they would like copies of all marriage certificates from prior marriages. This seems to be a problem. According to my Fiancé, as soon as she was issued her divorce absolute 18 some years ago the UK government takes your Marriage certificate. Does anyone have any experience with this situation? Can my fiancé obtain an old copy of her marriage Cert. ? Is it Needed if she has her divorce absolute?

I emailed the Embassy on 13th Dec and I am yet still to receive a reply despite putting my case number in the subject line. What would be the next best course of action? Would a telephone call suffice? If so would I need to call the premium rate number?

What a journey this has been so far! I finally received P4 yesterday and the interview has been scheduled for 19th Jan 2007! Four days after our baby is due! I emailed the embassy to reschedule the interview and received the auto response. Would it be wise to write to them instead? Has anyone had any success of rescheduling on the telephone?

When Great Britain and other European Countries went around the World raping,killing, stealing and practicing the colonalisation of Nations I cannot recall them adapting conforming to the indigenous peoples culture in fact quite the contrary!

The day after we won the Olympic bid came the terrorist attacks in London. These murders were carried out by British-born suicide bombers who had lived and been brought up in this country, who had received all its many advantages and yet who ultimately took their own lives and the lives of the wholly innocent, in the name of an ideology alien to everything this country stands for.

[...]

... it has thrown into sharp relief, the nature of what we have called, with approval, "multicultural Britain". We like our diversity. But how do we react when that "difference" leads to separation and alienation from the values that define what we hold in common? For the first time in a generation there is an unease, an anxiety, even at points a resentment that our very openness, our willingness to welcome difference, our pride in being home to many cultures, is being used against us; abused, indeed, in order to harm us.

[...]

Integration ... is not about culture or lifestyle. It is about values. It is about integrating at the point of shared, common unifying British values. It isn't about what defines us as people, but as citizens, the rights and duties that go with being a member of our society.

[...]

... our essential values - belief in democracy, the rule of law, tolerance, equal treatment for all, respect for this country and its shared heritage - then that is where we come together, it is what we hold in common; it is what gives us the right to call ourselves British. At that point no distinctive culture or religion supercedes our duty to be part of an integrated United Kingdom.

[...]

Yet, because this challenge has arisen in this way, it is necessary to go back to what a multi-cultural Britain is all about. The whole point is that multicultural Britain was never supposed to be a celebration of division; but of diversity. The purpose was to allow people to live harmoniously together, despite their difference; not to make their difference an encouragement to discord.

[...]

Obedience to the rule of law, to democratic decision-making about who governs us, to freedom from violence and discrimination are not optional for British citizens. They are what being British is about. Being British carries rights. It also carries duties. And those duties take clear precedence over any cultural or religious practice.

[...]

Our tolerance is part of what makes Britain, Britain. So conform to it; or don't come here. We don't want the hate-mongers, whatever their race, religion or creed.

Read the full speech at http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml...8/ublair208.xml

Congratulations Andy!

Thanks everyone for the advice. I will wait until I receive P4 then email the Embassy.

Hi,

I sent of P3 last month and I am awaiting P4. I am worried in case the interview is scheduled around the time my baby is due (which is in 6 weeks) , is it possible to change the interview date given the circumstances?

Thanks

May 2008!!! Gosh that is going to be a very long pregnancy indeed! I thought 9 months was long enough!

On a more serious note, I am in a similar situation, our baby is due in January and we are currently waiting for our interview date at the Embassy. I have decided to have the baby in England so our Lawyer has advised me to inform them at the Embassy and they will issue a K2 at no extra cost, although the baby will have to for the medical. I will also register the baby as a UK Citizen when it is born. If you would like you can PM me about this subject.

My fiance is pregnant now and the child is not due until May 2008. I want to submit a K-1 visa now and of course want the child to be included. The child will not have any father so there is no issues of custody, the mother will not name any child on the birth certificate so the way is clear for her to bring the child without permission of any father. When does a K-2 need to be applied for. Does it also take as long as the k-1? Can i include an unborn child on the k-1 visa application?